Business School: At what point in a tech career is pursuing an MBA no longer a viable and net positive option?

I'm currently in a full-time MBA program and on the older side of my class, having previously pursued a graduate degree in engineering and also 5 years of work experience in tech.  I was also accepted to a part-time program, but ultimately chose to pursue a full-time option. "Net-positive" financial considerations Regarding "net positive", I think if you are coming from tech with many years of experience, and don't plan on making a massive career change, it is likely NOT financially advantageous to pursue the full-time MBA.  For me, it definitely was not the clear winner from a spreadsheet's perspective.  However, I think that financial considerations alone should not deter you from considering MBA programs, as a lot of the benefits such as the brand, lifelong network, courses, and extracurricular experiences are "intangibles" yet extremely valuable in themselves. Viability of full-time and considerations for older students Although there are students in my MBA class who are in their early 30s, they are few and far between, and I recommend focusing on considering part time and executive MBA programs if you are beyond your early 30s.  Besides being harder to get in to some full-time programs that are trending towards younger students, a few other considerations for older students:   1) Career opportunities - The vast majority of career services and opportunities for MBAs coming out of full time programs are targeted towards people with 3-6 years of experience.  If you have more years of experience under your belt, you will likely find the opportunities too "entry-level" or low paying.  Essentially is your intention to leave your current job, start over, and recruit for a job in a new functional area alongside people who are 3-4 years less-experienced than you are? 2) Cultural fit - There is a reason why many business schools fall into a stereotype of having a "Mad Men" culture.  This is definitely not a deal breaker, but it's an important factor to consider when thinking about how you will bond and network with your classmates, and how it will affect you and your personal life.     3) Coursework - A fair amount of classroom discussion will revolve around past work experiences, and you will learn a lot from what your classmates bring to the table.  Age is generally not an issue here if you are coming from a tech career, and looking to be exposed to a wide range of perspectives from industries across the board.  However, if you are looking to learn from higher-ups with more work experience, the demographics of the part-time or executive MBA programs might be better fits. Full time vs. Part time Business school is essentially: 1/3 classes, 1/3 extracurriculars, and 1/3 networking/recruiting.  The full time option allows you to focus on all 3 components.  The part time option is designed for people who want classes and the degree, but not necessarily focused on the latter two-thirds.  Essentially, part time/executive MBAs need to be able to juggle the demands of a full time job on top of commuting and taking business classes.  This is not easy and your quality of life will likely suffer.  The main advantage of part-time is having a steady income, and not having to "start over" at the bottom of a new functional expertise or industry.  Part-time can be a good option for people who want to enhance their current careers, but is not ideal for potential career switchers.

What is your long term career goal? I assume that you are currently in a technical role, and you might be contemplating in working in a business/strategy/product position? Or perhaps you want to tap into your entrepreneurial spirit and start your own venture? If so, it is never too late to pursue an MBA. I have been working in the technical/engineering role for almost 20 years before I decided to pursue an executive MBA degree. I have the fortune to be an early employee for several tech startups with decent exits. Despite these successes, I felt that my impact was limited since I did not have a full grasp of the overall business environment. With my MBA education, I have developed business skills in finance, accounting, marketing and operation. As a result, I became a more strategic thinker, allowing me to make decisions with confidence, ones that have direct impact against the overall business. Networking is another important factor you should consider for getting an MBA. This becomes particularly relevant if your current company/industry does not offer any opportunity in network expansion. In fact, I met the co-founder of my startup during my MBA. Before you decide to pursue the degree, however, you should also consider the following 1) Does your company provide the training/advancement towards your long term career goal? If so, there is little need for an MBA education 2) Costs An elite MBA program can cost up to 200K ( tuition plus 2-year lost salary for a full time program ) while the return of investment may not be immediate. 3) Family support Do you have a family? If so, make sure that you have their support as this is an arduous endeavor. Your family needs to be prepared as much as you are. Hope this helps. And good luck in your decision

I don't think anyone can provide an answer to that question except yourself--based on your passion and context.  I would suggest that there are 8 core questions you perhaps should consider when making this important decision: What is the value of the program vs. the cost (economically)? (as well as what holes or gaps are you filling by attending an MBA program?) What is the opportunity cost of my time in the program vs. the network and knowledge gained? What are the experiential benefits of one vs. the other? What type of tech entrepreneur do I want to be (manager/leader vs. something else)? Can the MBA program give me international experience which will be valuable? Can the MBA program give me financial experience which is valuable? Can I be in an MBA program and be an entrepreneur on the side (aka semi-lifestyle business)? What are the variety of ways I can consume the knowledge and experience from an MBA programs (ie online or part-time)?  If you choose the online option--I would hope you would have the opportunity to still network face to face as well as get to know the professors personally.